E-Book, Englisch, 200 Seiten
ISBN: 978-1-5439-6981-8
Verlag: BookBaby
Format: EPUB
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CHAPTER THREE HOPE DENIED Stunned by the apparent lack of concern from this religious leader the traveler, trying desperately to roll himself over, wondered if he had only imagined it. His thoughts still not taking solid hold in his mind, he reasoned that maybe he had just imagined it. “That had to be it,” he thought. “One of such evident piety would never have left him to meet his fate alone.” Slipping back into unconsciousness he was unaware that a being shining brighter than the sun itself stood guard over him. He was not alone….. It would be what seemed like hours before he was again awakened by the sound of footsteps coming down the dirt road in his direction. _________________________ Traveling in and out of New York City we were given a very specific route to get to our location and then home again. One evening after an exceptionally long and cold day of working in the streets we made a wrong turn on our way home. Still deep in the city we hoped that we could just circle around and get back on our designated route. What we did not know was that this detour was more divine than mistake. In the dim light of an early winter evening we approached a line of limousines pulled over at the curb. The neighborhood was not the best and I wondered what all of these luxury vehicles were doing here. To my surprise, I along with all those traveling with me would soon be introduced to a hidden part of life here. From out of the shadows we saw women in full length mink coats approaching the limousines. Dark tinted windows rolled down as the women opened their coats. Doors were opened and the women disappeared into the vehicles. It all took place before we fully realized what was happening. These women were being bought and sold in the business of prostitution and sexual slavery. No one seemed to notice or care and the city continued on as if nothing out of the ordinary was happening. As we drove out of the city my thoughts were conflicted. I felt relief to be out of that place and back to where things made sense, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that in the midst of the terrible things I had witnessed, the burning love of Jesus was present. I couldn’t help but believe that Jesus wept…….. __________________________ Sitting here tonight, writing these words as I think back over the years to this incident I still can’t shake the feeling that in the midst of all that was wrong and evil that night the Savior was present, His hands extended to pull these precious ones to Him. I’m sure some in the church might disagree with me. Others might be appalled that I would imply such a thing……… but I stand on the truth that Jesus came to set the captives free. Where else would He have been? Like the religious leader, we swung the van to the other side of the street to avoid the terrible reality of what we were witnessing, and proceeded as quickly as we could to leave that behind us…….. __________________________ In The Ditch Opening his eyes just a little in the bright sunlight he listened intently, sure that he was hearing footsteps. As they got closer to where he lay in the ditch, drenched in his own blood, the traveler felt a twinge of hope. “Surely this person would help,” he thought. Too weak to cry out he could only lay there and hope. Struggling with all of the strength he had left, with a pitiful groan he raised his hand to the edge of the ditch where he lay. The passerby, a religious man by his dress, saw his hand, bloody and covered with mud, and turned to look into the ditch. He stared for a moment at the broken body of the traveler and refusing to meet his gaze, he quickly turned away. Starting for the other side of the road he may have hesitated for a moment, but thought better of it. “What business of his was this, and why would he want to get involved,” he must have wondered? With that the traveler could hear the footsteps quickly moving away from where he lay and like cold water on a warm, and friendly fire, the light of hope went out in his heart. His unseen companion wept as he stood guard over this broken one. __________________________ Every day we have the opportunity to make a difference, no matter how small, in someone’s life. Hope is a gift that we too often withhold to the detriment of others and loss to ourselves. Why do we do this? It is the question that haunts me every time I fail to offer hope to another. Every time I look away from one that is in someway broken. I know that even listening to their pitiful cries brings me closer to the ditch where they lay. If I reach out to pull them to their feet I am suddenly aware that they have somehow become my responsibility. Desiring to do the right thing, but tossed as a wave with fear and doubt I am aware that more often than I would like to admit I pull my hand back. Moving quickly to the other side of the road I shield my eyes from the pain and close my ears to the cries of the hurting. The one thing that I will never be successful at is placating my heart that screams, “turn around!” But, to my shame, as water seeks out the way of least resistance, often I do as well…….. __________________________ This morning as I sit writing this chapter my attention is caught by the fast running stream outside my window. Water from the mountain above seeking out a lower point. Pulled incessantly downward by gravity it seeks the way of least resistance, not knowing where it will end its journey. How alike we are. Not knowing where we are going and leaning on our own understanding, it is easy to flow with the current of the world around us. Down and down we go until we find the level where the human soul dwells…….. when we are captains of our own salvation. This begs the question, “why would we purposely flow out of our place of hope into this pit of despair?” Searching my heart for answers to this question it doesn’t take long for me to realize that there are innumerable things that occur everyday that can cause us to ‘effectively jump ship.’ As we splash into the raging sea doubts and fears quickly replace hope, as the rarefied air that we have been breathing is being choked out of our lungs by the relentless waves. Trying desperately to stay afloat we grab onto whatever is floating by. For many it is the false hope that the world around us offers. It comes in many forms. Wealth and possessions, status, fulfilled lust, and of course drink and drugs. For awhile all seems to be well. We find ourselves on the beach and crawl to where the sand is dry. For now, we feel safe. Days turn into years and we once again become convinced that this is all there is. Then it happens…….what we were holding to for support is now holding us captive. Quietly, with great patience, the chains were again fastened to us. With each passing day they are tightened until we become aware that we are prisoners. _______________________ A Chance Meeting I met him after my wife and I had become Christians. We were looking for a church and were led to this place. He was tall, well dressed and one of the first to greet us. As time went on we got to know each other. He had been a heroin addict. His addiction had landed him in jail. Out of pure desperation he cried out for mercy. Hearing his cry, Jesus set him free from the life stealing addiction. Today he was a man raising a family, living for Jesus and filled with joy. Some time passed and our church attendance became sporadic at best. One night my wife was working and I was home alone. The phone rang and answering I was surprised to hear my friend’s voice. He told me that during the weekly prayer meeting our names had been brought up. We were missed. He had volunteered to make contact with us and asked if he could come to visit me. I instinctively knew that he wanted to talk to me about the state of my soul and my mind ran in every direction trying to find an excuse to say no. Finally I said, “I really appreciate it, but we live pretty far out in the country and its a dark night.” Without a pause my friend said, “I’m at the end of your road brother, no more than two miles from your house. Can I please visit with you?” At this point with any sense of decency I couldn’t say no and told him to come. I turned on the...
